Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

As has been indicated, the coming decade from now until 2020 certainly could be regarded as a decade of many historic milestones, including a series of centenaries. I refer to the centenaries of the aforementioned great lockout in 2013, the Easter Rising in 2016, the Sinn Féin general election victory in 2018 and the first meeting of Dáil Éireann in 2019. These are all important centenaries. An bhfuil clár cuimhneacháin á ullmhú ag an Rialtas do na hocáidí uilig sin?

For Sinn Féin, and I expect for all parties, these centenaries do not simply represent a recall or a commemoration of great historic events. They are of course occasions that can offer an opportunity to assist progress towards the full achievement of the goal of those generations who were the front-line participants in those major historical events. Certainly for them and for me, that goal is a truly independent and united Ireland, a united people - I lay particular emphasis on that - and a Republic worthy of the name across the 32 counties of Ireland. One should not ever feel that referencing, promoting or encouraging this is in any way to deflect from the importance of reconciliation and the building of mutual respect. The two are not mutually exclusive and it is about encouragement and about working and developing relations and understandings.

While this is only a suggestion on which no major work has been done, when considering the individual centenaries to which I have referred, such as, for instance, that of the great lockout in 2013, would it not be appropriate to have made progress on legislation providing for mandatory recognition of trade union membership by 2013? Would this not be a highly valid and appropriate achievement on the centenary of the 1913 lockout? Will the Government consider such a process? We in Sinn Féin and others have argued for this repeatedly and I moot the idea with the Taoiseach this morning.

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